Incident Reports

Businessmen picket police premises, demand prompt rescue

2016-05-27

Madhes, Bara, Mahagadhimai

While police investigators continue connecting the dots in Thursday's kidnapping of businessman Suresh Kedia in Birgunj, entrepreneurs and other locals on Friday picketed the police station and the Armed Police Force (APF) base camp at Telkuwa VDC of Bara district, demanding immediate rescue of the victim and prompt arrest of the assailants. The local businessmen vented their anger against police failure to trace the whereabouts of the kidnapped man even 24 hours after the incident. Kedia, who belongs to the Kedia Group of Birgunj, was kidnapped Thursday evening by unidentified assailants from Bariyarpur in Bara.

In the course of the kidnapping, they shot and seriously wounded Kedia's chauffeur. According to Bijaya Sawarnakar, chairman of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Bara, the locals had promptly informed police that Kedia's kidnappers used a white Scorpio car. However, Nepal Police and the APF both failed to arrest the assailants despite the timely information, he said. He accused both Nepal Police and APF of ignoring the timely information. During the protest, local businessmen and entrepreneurs also accused security officials of not foiling the kidnappers' getaway although there was 15 km of gravel road before reaching the Indian border. DSP Binod Sharma tried to calm the protesting locals and businessman, assuring them of Kedia's return safe and sound as soon as possible. "We have already mobilized security personnel against the kidnappers with the support of neighbouring police outfits," Sharma told the protestors. Birgunj folks have again become terrified following this latest incident and they doubt if investors would continue to come to the district, given the state of insecurity. Kedia was returning from Bariyapur after visiting local businessmen when he was kidnapped near the Pashaha river west of Bairyapur. APF DSP Chandra Shumsher Kunwar, who was on duty at the time of the kidnapping said, "Because of lack of prompt instructions from district headquarters, we could not stop the vehicle used by the kidnappers."

' Bara CDO Krishna Prasad Dhungana, meanwhile, confessed security lapses and assured protestors about putting the assailants behind bars as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a high-level police investigation led by AIG Kedar Prasad Saud has reached Bara to probe the kidnapping and shooting. The team has expressed hope of positive results. Neighbouring police outfits have also complained at information not being disseminated to them by Nepal Police immediately after the incident took place. A police team led by DSP Binod Sharma has meanwhile left for India to further investigate the case.

Details and Impacts
Violent / Non-violent Nonviolent
Primary Form Gherau/Dharna (sit-in)/padlocking
Primary Cause Issues related to legal action and access to justice
Actor 1 - Number of people 50
Actor 1 - Affiliations Group of civilians (only Target)
Actor 1 - Youth na
Actor 2 - Number of people n/a
Actor 2 - Affiliation (Target) Police APF
Actor 2 - Youth na
National/Online Media

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